Washing-machine



i (No Model.)

i G. W. BALLARD.

WASHING MACHINE No. 425,397. Patented Apr. 15,1890

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PATENT GEORGE \V. BALLARD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

WASHING-MACHINE.

. $PECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,397, dated April15, 1890.

Application filed August 22, 1889.

To all? whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. BALLARD, of the city of Detroit, in thecounty of lVayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Washing-Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in washing-machines; and the objectof my invention is to provide an improved machine for clean sing clothesby forcing water through the interstices of the cloth. I attain thisobjeot in the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one end of the trough forcontaining the water, sho W- in g the operating mechanism in elevation,the frame B and the piston contained therein being shown in section.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig.3 is aplan viewof the frame 13 and the piston contained therein; and Fig. lis a sectionon the line w a, Fig. 3.

Similar letters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

A is a rectangular oblong trough for containing the water for washingthe clothes.

G is a perforated diaphragm supported parallel to and a short distancefrom the bottom of the trough A. H

B B are oblong frames open at both ends, into which are fitted thepistons D D.

E is a platform resting upon the upper edges of the longer sides of thetrough A, and adapted to slide thereon in the direction of the length ofthe trough.

F F are standards rising vertically from the platform E.

G G are two arcs rigidly secured together by the frame H, and formingparts of circles having their centers at the center of the frame H. Theframe II is pivoted at its center in the upper ends of the standards FF, so to oscillate in a vertical plane.

R is a handle for oscillating the frame 11.

I I are rectangular bars rigidly secured to the centers of the pistons DD and extending vertically therefrom.

2' i are teeth formed along the sides of the bars I I which face eachother. Said bars $erie1 No. 321,733. (No model.)

extend through and slide in rectangular holes in the platform E, theteeth upon their sides engaging with the teeth of the arcs G G.

J' J are slabs extending across the upper ends of the frames B B andrigidly secured thereto. The bars I I are adapted to slide throughrectangular holes in the slabs J J K K K K are springs secured to theslabs J .I, respectively, and act by their elasticity to draw thepistons D D to the top of the frames B B.

L L are holes formed, respectively, through the pistons D D, and M H areflaps secured to the under side of the pistons D D, respect ively, andadapted to prevent water or air from passing upward through the holes LL and allow them to pass freely downward through said holes.

N N are holes passing horizontally through the frames B B, respectively,a short distance from their tops.

0 O are guards for deflecting downward any jets of water which may passthrough the holes N N.

P P are thumb-screws passing through lugs Q Q, respectively, and adaptedto limit the upward travel of the pistons D D.

The operation of the above-described device is as follows: The trough Abeing partially filled with water, the clothes to be cleansed are laidupon the perforated diaphragm C. The operator then oscillates the frameII by means of the handle R, forcing the frame B down upon the clothes.After the frame B rests upon the clothes the downward pressure upon thebar I is continued, forcing the piston D down in the frame B and drivingthe water below said piston out at the lower end of the frame B againstand through the cloth. WVhen the frame 13 is raised, the piston isreturned to the top of said frame by the springs K K, the water passingdown through the holeL to fill the space below said piston. lVhen thelevel of the water in the trough is below the lower end of the frame Bat the highest position of said frame the air passes out of the holes NN, when said frame descend allowing the water to fill up the space belowthe piston D. \Vhen there area number of thicknesses of cloth over thediaphragm C, it is found difficult to force the Water through the cloth.In this case the thumbscrews P P are set so that the piston D cannotrise above the holes N N, When there will be only air under said piston,which will act to drive the Water in the clothes out, which operationdoes not require as much pressure as Where the water is driven into theclothes as in the first operation described. moved along the length ofthe trough A, so as to reach all the clothes that may be therein. Theperforated diaphragm keeps the clothes off the bottom of the trough,thus allowing the Water to circulate through them more easily. Theconstruction and operation of the frame B are the same as. that of theframe B.

Having fully described my invention, what The platform E is I claim,and'desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-

In a washing-machine, substantially as described, the combination offrame B, open at both ends and provided with a series of holes near itsupper end, means for raising and pressing down the frame upon theclothes, a piston Within said frame, means, substantially as described,for reciprocating said piston in said frame, and adjustable stops,substantially as described, attached to said frame to limit the upwardmotion of said piston, substantially as shown and described. 1 GEORGE W.BALLARD. Witnesses: V

ROBERT W. WEBB, ELLIOTT J. STUDDARD.

